David Haye insists he will not let Tony Bellew drag him into the gutter again by engaging in a trash-talking war.

Haye claims he lost to Bellew in their first heavyweight clash last year because he allowed himself to be needled in the build-up.

He says he foolishly played into Bellew’s hands and has vowed not to repeat that ­mistake before Saturday’s ­rematch at London’s O2.

Haye was chilled at ­Monday’s public press conference at ­Liverpool’s Echo Arena despite the abuse from local hero Bellew’s fans — even drinking from an 'I Love Liverpool' mug — and vowed he won’t descend to the Scouser’s level.

“The last time round I came in angry, I came in screaming and shouting, whooping and hollering, and said some ­horrendous things to the good people of Liverpool,” he ­admitted. “I paid the ultimate price because I talked big and then under-performed terribly.

“All the big talk I dished out, he made me eat my words. I don’t need a sports psychologist to tell me the way I was effing and blinding the last time I was in ­Liverpool was the wrong mindset to have.

“I’m not going to lower myself to that again.

The pair will fight again this weekend at London's O2 (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“That’s where he is. He’s in the ­gutter, that’s where he performs.

“He played a masterful game. That’s not going to happen this time round. He’s going to be playing my game.”

Haye watched the first fight – which Bellew ended in the 11th round – with new trainer Ismael Salas, who ­recently split from three-weight world champ Jorge Linares, and admits it made painful viewing.

The 37-year-old, who has boxed only three times in the last six years, could not believe how bad he was and says he fought like a novice who had no place in a boxing ring.

Watching his performance against Bellew hurt Haye as much as the bout itself did (Image: Getty)

“It was painful,” said the two-weight world champ. “I’m watching it and I’m thinking, ‘What are you doing?’

“The punches I was ­throwing, I’ve never missed so many. If I had watched ­someone else do that I would have said, ‘Boxing ain’t for you, mate. You haven’t got what it takes to even make it past Southern Area level.’ That’s how bad it looked.

“Fortunately I have changed quite a few things, Ismael Salas being one of them. And having conditioner Ruben Tabares back on the team. He knows how to get the best out of me.